Episode 3699

Telly welcomes the viewer to Sesame Street, and invites the viewer to read signs with him. He loves to read signs because they tell you important things. He encounters signs such as SUBWAY, FINDERS KEEPERS, CELINA'S DANCE STUDIO, and Big Bird's mailbox which says "B. BIRD." However, Telly has an even more special sign in mind: his favorite sign, the Sesame Street sign. But wait - the sign appears to be missing! Telly remembers reading it yesterday, and calls for help.

Ernie and Bert: While Bert is trying to read a book about pigeons, Ernie practices walking backwards and always bumps into Bert when he does. To solve this problem, Ernie pushes Bert's chair (with Bert in it) out of the apartment.(First: Episode 3534)

Big Bird, Luis and Lexine hear Telly's cries for help, and notice the missing sign. Luis suggests that maybe it was blown away by a big wind. Big Bird thinks maybe a giant needed the sign as a back scratcher, but Lexine doesn't see any giant footprints. Telly worries that they may never see the Sesame Street sign again. To Telly, it isn't "just a sign" - it lets him know where he lives. He gives a heartfelt speech, which gets Big Bird on his side. Luis says he will call the city and ask if they know what happened to the sign, and how it can be put back in its place. In the meantime, Telly will make a temporary "Sesame Street" sign with crayons ...

Grover climbs a tree and finds a bird's nest with some eggs in it. The eggs hatch, and the baby birds think Grover is their mommy. When the real mother bird arrives, she mistakes Grover for one of her babies. She gives them all a flying lesson, but Grover promptly falls to the ground.(EKA: Episode 0693)

Telly reminds the viewer what he's going to do about the missing sign crisis: make a temporary "Sesame Street" sign with an Artzy® crayon. He isn't quite sure how to spell the words, even though he's looked at the sign a lot.

SCENE 3cont'd

Suddenly, a happy little man named Georgie comes by, looking for the Sesame Street sign, under which he must meet with his sweetie pie today. When he doesn't see the sign, he becomes worried, and looks elsewhere. This raises the urgency of Telly's temporary sign, especially when Georgie's dream girl comes by, and finds that there is no indication that she's on Sesame Street.

SCENE 3cont'd

Telly finally finishes the sign, and stands by the sign post, holding it. It comes in handy when a blue monster comes by looking for Sesame Street. Telly hopes he won't have to do this forever ...

Cartoon

Some animals want a boy to share his birthday cake with them, but he keeps changing his "No ______ allowed" sign, until they all offer him a glass of milk.Artist: Gene Barretta(First: Episode 3560)

Telly is getting exhausted from holding the temporary sign. Suddenly, he feels an itch on his back, and asks Benny to scratch it. Benny cares little about Telly's plight at first, but eventually gives in.

SCENE 4cont'd

A passer-by wonders what street he's on, when Telly shows him. Telly thanks Benny, not noticing that he's squished him against the pole.

Luis comes back and informs Telly that the city didn't know what happened to the sign either, but they will replace it with an exact replica of the previous one ... in about five years. Telly can't afford to miss his Triangle Lover's Club meetings and tuba practice! He moans that he'll be here for five years holding the sign.

SCENE 5cont'd

Just then, a carrier pigeon comes by to return a sign he accidentally bumped into. As luck would have it, it is the missing Sesame Street sign ... but Luis realizes that it is all broken into pieces. Telly still thinks he'll be holding the temporary sign for five years, but Luis reminds him of why he works at the Fix-it Shop, and says he'll have it fixed really soon.

Telly has almost lost all his energy from holding up the temporary sign, when Luis comes back with a brand new, spiffy-looking wood replica of the old sign! He puts it back up, and Telly is relieved that he can now put his arms down, and read the sign. Big Bird and Luis say Telly's a hero, to which he modestly replies, "Well, somebody had to do it!"

SCENE 6cont'd

Luis announces the sponsors, and reminds the viewers that Slimey is still on his way to the moon. Finally, Georgie and his sweetie pie reunite under the restored Sesame Street sign.